Ryuichi Sakamoto Wants to Score Your Short Film and Give You $5K

This past spring, Ryuichi Sakamoto released his album async, which he described as a “soundtrack for an imaginary Andrei Tarkovsky film.” Today, he announced the async Short Film Competition, in which he asks filmmakers to create a movie around his music.

The short films will be judged by Sakamoto and acclaimed filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives). In addition, one filmmaker will be given an “Audience Award” based on the following method: One point for every time the submitted film is played on Vimeo; 10 points for every “like” on Vimeo; and 10 points for every “like” on Facebook by September 30th, 2017. 

Sakamoto will decide on a winner based on the following criteria:

• Originality
• Creativity
• Unique expression of the relationship between the music and the images
• The general appeal of the film

This winner will receive:

• The license to use one piece of new music composed and produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto for your next film project. (The rights of this music will be retained by Ryuichi Sakamoto and his management.)
• A $3,000 USD cash prize.
• The film will be included in the 5.1ch Blu-ray edition of async.
• The film will be introduced as a promotional film on Ryuichi Sakamoto’s official site, sitesakamoto.com, the official website and YouTube/Vimeo channels of the Japanese label Commons and the official website and YouTube/Vimeo channels of the international label Milan Records.
• 10 signed albums chosen by Ryuichi Sakamoto from his discography.

Credit: Kick the Machine

Apichatpong will decide on a winner based on the following criteria:

• Originality
• Creativity
• The general appeal of the film

This winner will receive:

• Apichatpong Weerasethakul will serve as an advisor for your next film project.
• A $2,000 USD cash prize.
• The film will be included in the 5.1ch Blu-ray edition of async.
• The film will be introduced as a promotional film on Ryuichi Sakamoto’s official site, sitesakamoto.com, the official website and YouTube/Vimeo channels of the Japanese label Commons and the official website and YouTube/Vimeo channels of the international label Milan Records.
• The vinyl and CD box set which includes soundtracks from Apichatpong’s film and video pieces, entitled “Metaphors, Selected Soundworks from The Cinema of Apichatpong Weerasethakul.”

The application deadline is September 30th, 2017. The contest is open to everyone and there is no entry fee. The winner will be announced on November 15th, 2017. For more information, check out the competition's website.